Wyoming’s ESSA State Plan Submitted to USED

State Superintendent Jillian Balow signs Wyoming’s ESSA state plan on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at Laramie County Community College.

CHEYENNE – Today State Superintendent Jillian Balow has submitted Wyoming’s consolidated state plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to the U.S. Department of Education (USED).

ESSA reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and replaces No Child Left Behind as the principal federal law affecting K-12 education. To meet the requirements of ESSA, the plan includes achievement and graduation rate goals for schools, measures for how well schools are doing, and priorities for the use of federal funds to support schools, students, and educators.

State Superintendent Jillian Balow says ESSA gives Wyoming education a call to action to examine its strengths and challenges, “With this plan we double down with how we create opportunities for students as they prepare for success in college, careers, workforce training, or military service. Our charge is clear: school needs to be relevant for all students, and we can do better than we did under No Child Left Behind. As we implement this plan, we will continue to rely on the people of Wyoming to weigh in on how we are doing.”

Extensive stakeholder input was gathered through listening sessions, town halls, public meetings, individual stakeholder meetings, and online feedback opportunities to ensure that the plan puts Wyoming’s priorities first. Stakeholder input directly impacted the alignment of the state plan to the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act, the post-secondary readiness indicator for high schools, how the statewide assessment will be utilized, how funds will be utilized to support and prepare teachers, and how funds will be used to offer a well-rounded education.

States are required to submit plans for meeting the requirements of ESSA by September 18, 2017in order to receive federal funds. USED will have 120 days to conduct a peer review, evaluate the plan and offer feedback. More information on Wyoming’s ESSA state plan is available at edu.wyoming.gov/essa.